Exam Strategist Most Common Flashcards
Prosaic
Adj.
Dull, commonplace, unimaginative
Root - prose - (ordinary or commonplace writing)
Quotidian
Adj.
Daily, usual, or customary occurrence of something
Same cluster as prosaic. Pick quotidian if something is happening on a daily basis
Restive
Adj.
Restless or uneasy. Stubborn and refusing to move forward.
Opposite of restful and rest.
Pernicious
Adj.
Causing a subtle or gradual type of harm
Diffident
Adj.
A type of personality, referring to a lack of confidence or self-worth. Overly restrained and perhaps reluctant or even timid
Modest, shy
Enervate
Verb
Sap energy from, weaken.
Antonym to invigorate (give strength or energy to)
Ambivalence
Noun
Uncertainty or having mixed feelings, often due to an inability to decide or by a desire to do conflicting things.
Usually mistaken for indifference (implies you have no particular feelings about something). Ambivalence means you feel pulled in two directions about something and can’t decide.
Agog
Adj.
To be very excited about something with great eagerness, curiosity, or anticipation.
Artless
Adj.
Free from deceit and without guile (sly, cunning).
Without effort or pretentiousness; natural and simple
Purely positive meaning, often gets negative connotation.
Gossamer
Adj
Used to refer to something very light, thin, or delicate.
Harangue
Noun
A long and aggressive or vehement (forceful, passionate, intense) speech; tirade (a long angry speech of criticism or accusation) or rant.
Insipid
Adj.
Lacking interest or vigor (energy).
Boring, vapid, or dull.
Sometimes mistaken with insidious (working in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects).
Maudlin
Adj.
Tearfully or weakly emotional
Nonplussed
Adj.
Utterly perplexed or puzzled completely.
Urbane
Adj.
A person who is courteous and refined in manner
Ersatz
Adj.
Typically refers to a substitute product, most of inferior quality. (Knock off)
Anodyne
Adj.
Not likely to cause controversy; weakened and made bland
Euphony
Noun
An agreeableness of sound, producing a pleasing effect to the ear.
Often used to describe a pleasant combination or succession of words as with poetry.
Extant
Adj.
Still in existence and surviving
Lachrymose
Adj.
Mournful, tear inducing, sad
Munificent
Adj.
Immensly generous in an unusual way.
Not to be confused with maleficient (working to produce harm or evil).
Nadir
Noun
lowest point, often used to refer to a point of great despair or adversity
Pellucid
Adj.
Easily understood, clear, or lucid (clear and comprehensible) in meaning
Philistine
Noun
A person who is lacking in culture or hostile to the arts
Polemic
Noun
A strong verbal or written attack on someone or something
Puerile
Adj.
Childishly silly and trivial
Quixotic
Adj.
Exceedingly idealistic, unrealistic, and impractical
Raconteur
Noun
One who is skillful or gifted at storytelling.
Soporific
Adj.
Causing or tending to cause sleep.
Belligerent
Adjective
Eager or quick to argue and fight; agressively defiant.
Same definition as truculent.
Tyro
Noun
A beginner in learning something; novice.
Auspicious
Adj.
Favorable, opportune, and promising of success.
Capricious
Adj.
Unpredictable or whimsical
Sudden change in mood or behavior
Inculpate
Verb
To charge with wrong-doing or accuse
Specious
Adj.
Superficially plausible but actually wrong or incorrect.
Often used to describe an argument.
Misleading, deceptive, wrong
Banal
Adj.
Lacking in originality; obvious and boring
Hegemony
Adj.
Leadership or dominance over a country or group
Alacrity
Noun
An eager willingness to do something.
It is a positive word.
Eagerness, zeal
Paucity
Noun
Lack of something
Innocuous
Adj.
Harmless; not likely to produce ill effects.
